ASTRAKHAN. April 17 (Interfax) - Four militants have been neutralized in an ongoing counterterrorist operation in Russia's internal republic of Ingushetia, said Makhmud-Ali Kalimatov, head of the republic and antiterrorism commission chairman.
"Four militants have been neutralized and two have been detained and are testifying. Their accomplices are being searched for," Kalimatov said.
A counterterrorist operation is continuing in the Malgobek district of Ingushetia to put an end to the activity of an armed gang that attacked police officers in March and April, Kalimatov said, adding that three policemen were killed and another 15 sustained injuries of various degrees in those attacks. The militants identified themselves as followers of the ISIL terrorist organization banned in Russia.
Security services, the police and the Russian National Guard rapidly tracked down and neutralized four militants in a shootout, while apprehending another two. Their testimony helped find arms and ammo caches and identify and detain nine residents of Ingushetia and Chechnya facilitating the militants' movement and hiding.
The manhunt for another two militants is continuing.